Tube-coating machine.



No. 694,698. 1 Patented Mar; 4,1902;

w. THOMAS.

TUBE'COATING MACHINE.-

(Application filed Jan. 9, 1902;)

(Np Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.-

WITNESSES IN VENTOH A TTOHNE Y THE Nonms PETERS 00., Prlcrou wui. WASHINGTON n. c.

* Patented Mar.'.4, I902.. W; THUMAS. TUBE COATING MACHINE. (AppXicqi iop'flled Jan. 9, i902.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

- INVENTORY WITNESSES V A 77'0HNEY m: Nonms vrrsns ca, PHOTO-LUNG wmnmm'on, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM THOMAS, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

TUBE-CO ATINGYMACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 694,698, dated March 4, 1902.

Application filed January 9, 1902. Serial No. 89,021. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, WILLIAM THOMAS, a citi= zen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tube-Coating Machines; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled inthe art to which it appertains to make and'use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

. This invention relates especially to means for coating paper tubes to be used as artificial straws, witha waterproof substance, but may be applied in the manufacture of tubes of other material and to be used for other purposes. The invention includes means for coating, distributing, and drying the tubes by one rapid continuous complete operation and is fullyillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an elevation showing the general construction of the machine, but with part of the tank-casing broken away, showing a closed cage or basket in operative position. Fig. 2 is a plan view on linear roof Fig. 1 and with the tank-cover leaning against the side of the tank. Fig. 3 is a plan view on line 'y y of Fig. 1, showing a basket of tubes in position and the hinged basket-cover open, also a part of the tank and plate broken away to show the steam-coil in the bottom of the tank.

Like letters of reference indicate'corre.

sponding parts in the several views.

A indicates a tank, preferably cylindrical and made of metal. It is also preferably inclosed on top,except a central opening a. It has a door or opening ct, provided with a cover a.

B is a vertical hollow shaft, with a bearing 0 on a support 0, fixed to a stationary post or anchorage D, and a bearing 0 on a support 0, also fixed to the post D. This shaft is also braced by bars 0 c, properly anchored.

E is a band-Wheel on the shaft B, connecting through the band c with the driving power.

F is the upper member of afriction-clutch, secured on shaft B by screw f. F is the lower member of said clutch, fixed on a shaft G. This shaft extends from the interior of the tank up loosely through the hollow shaft B and has hearings in a box H, which is hung to a cord 1. The latter passes over pulleys J J7 and at its other end carries a weight K, which approximately balances the mechanism supported by the cord. The shaft G supports a basket-carrying plate L in the tank and has a friction clutch-disk 9 near its upper end, adapted, when lowered, to engage the top of the band-wheel E, which is adapted for that purpose.

m'is a lever hung at M and secured to the cord I,"by which the weight and the shifting parts of the mechanism are raised and lowered. Ordinary means, as a pin and hole m, are provided to hold the lever in the desired position.

N is a brake-bar hung at n and extending across thetank. It has a concavity n, adapted to engage the disk F. A steam-coil O enters the side of the tank and lies upon its bottom.

P is a supply of. stearin or other suitable substance which is liquefied by the heat from the coil.

- Q is a basket or receptacle, preferably of wire, in which the straws are placed to be coated. The ends of the baskets should be covered with fine wire-netting. Each basket is set within a number of pins R R, standing on the plate L. A wire cover S for each basket is hinged to the top of pins R R and when closed rests upon the basket and the topof pins R R. A pin 1" carries a button 2, which fastens the cover down. The tubes U are placed in the basket lengthwise, as shown in Fig. 3.

The machine is operated as follows: The stearin or other coating substance is put in go the tank and the steam turned into the coil 0. When the stearin is melted, it should fill the tank approximately one-half full, a heated air-space 19 being left above the stearin. Fill the baskets with the tubes to be coated and 5 set them on the plate L in the places provided and close and button the hinged cover on each. The plate L rotates freely either way when the clutches are not engaged, so that any basket may be broughtunder the opening a. The connection may be made at any time with the driving power and kept up continuously, as the revolution of the 'shaftB is not communicated to the shaft G unless the clutches F F org E are engaged. Fig. 1 shows the parts so disposed. When the baskets are in place and the cover a is put on, the lever on is raised until the plate and baskets are submerged in the stearin, and the lowered clutchdisk 9 partially engages the revolving wheelclutch E, as shown in dotted lines. The shaft G and the plate with baskets may thus be made to revolve slowly or intermittently in. the stearin until the tubes are completely coated therewith. The lever is now lowered, which lifts the baskets from the stearin and brings clutch F F into full engagement. A rapid rotation is thus secured to the baskets, and the free stearin is thrown ofi. The

' rapid rotation of the baskets in the heated air of the tank causes all the free stearin to leave the tubes by their rear ends, both from their inner and from their outer sides. \Vhen the tubes are sufliciently dried, by raising the lever slightly clutch F F is disengaged and the brake N is applied to member F, which soon stops the movement of the plate and baskets. The baskets are then taken out and emptied, and the operation may be repeated.

A chain may be used in place of the cord I, a difierent form of brake may be employed, and other features of the machine may be modified without departing from the spirit-of my invention. It is also evident that the plate and baskets may be revolved by hand or other power not herein illustrated, and I do not limit myself to the identical connections with the power herein shown.

What I claim, and desire to secure, is

1. Means for coating tubes comprising a tank containing the-coating material, receptacles for the tubes and means to rotate said receptacles in, and also above said coating material, as described.

2. Means for coating tubes, comprising a tank containing the coating material, receptacles for the tubes and means to rotate said receptacles in, and also above said coating material,by one continuous rotary movement, substantially as described.

3. Means for coating tubes comprising a heated tank, coating material therein, a rotatable plate and tube-receptacles thereon within the tank, mechanism to lower said receptacles into said coating material, to rotate them therein, to raise said receptacles out of said coating material and to rotate them thereabove, as and for the purposes specified.

4. In a tube -coating machine a covered tank containing the coating substance, an air-space above said coating substance, a steam-pipe to heat said substance and airspace, a suitable opening with cover in the top of the tank, a shaft entering the tank, a basket-carrying plate fixed on said shaft, and means to rotate, to lower, and to raise said shaft and plate, as herein set forth.

5. The herein-described mechanism adapted for raising, for lowering, and for rotating an object, comprising a vertical hollow shaft B, held by bearings suitably anchored, a band-wheel thereon a friction clutch-disk F at its bottom, a loose shaft G extending through shaft B, and journaled in a box H, held by a cord which passes over pulleys and has a weight at its other end, a clutch-disk near the upper end of shaft G-ada'pted when lowered, to engage the top of said band-wheel, a clutch-disk F on its lower part to engage the disk F, the lower end of shaft G adapted to carry the object to be rotated, a lever to raise and lower said weight and shaft G, and a brake, substantially as herein specified.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM THOMAS.

Witnesses:

GILBERT A. CLARK, APPLETON P. CLARK. 

